Structure and method for controlling solar energy board

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a structure and method for controlling a solar energy board. The structure includes a first shaft, a first encoder, a connecting rod, a first motor and a controller. The first shaft is used to control vertical rotation of the solar energy board. The first encoder is disposed at the first shaft to read a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board. The connecting rod is connected to one side of the solar energy board. The first motor is disposed at the connecting rod to move the connecting rod so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the vertical direction. The controller is respectively connected to the first encoder and the first motor so as to activate or deactivate the first motor according to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 098101854 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Jan. 19, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a structure and method for controlling a solar energy board, in particular, to a structure and method for tracking the sun according to the computation of solar position generated from a solar tracking data, and controlling rotation angle of solar energy board precisely through separating an encoder from a motor.

2. Related Art

Along with the progressive of technology, the living level of human beings increases, and environmental protection is taken as a serious problem. Therefore, pollution prevention and economic efficiency must be concerned in advance about energy utilization. It is urgent to develop an energy with minimum pollution and high economic efficiency for retrieving the shortage of conventional energy. It is well known that massive energy are transmitted to the earth from the sun; however, the incident angle of sunlight is different at various time or seasons so that the surface of the solar energy board needs to be rotated in the direction perpendicular to the solar beam. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional solar energy apparatus detects sunlight by optical sensor. The apparatus includes a plate-like supporter 16 for supporting the solar energy board 10. The first shaft 131 is used to control vertical rotation of the solar energy board 10, and the second shaft 132 is used to control horizontal rotation. Four optical sensors 11 generate voltage signals by sensing amount variation of light so as to transmit the control signal to activate motors 141,142. Accordingly, the motors rotate the solar energy board through transmission chains 151,152 so that the solar energy board 10 is perpendicular to solar beam. Otherwise, a brightness sensor 12 closes the power of solar energy apparatus when the brightness is lower than predetermined value in the evening.

However, when tracking the solar position by optical sensor, the tracking precision is impacted due to bad weather or sensor covered with dust or bird excrement, thereby influencing the tracking efficiency so that the surface of the solar energy board can not be kept in a direction perpendicular to the solar beam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the invention is to provide a structure and method for controlling a solar energy board, in particular, to a structure and method for tracking the sun according to the computation of solar position generated from a solar tracking data, and controlling rotation angle of solar energy board precisely through separating an encoder from a motor.

To achieve the above, the present invention discloses a structure for controlling a solar energy board. The structure includes a first shaft, a first encoder, a connecting rod, a first motor and a controller. The first shaft is used to control vertical rotation of the solar energy board. The first encoder is disposed at the first shaft to read a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board. The connecting rod is connected to one side of the solar energy board. The first motor is disposed at the connecting rod to move the connecting rod so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the vertical direction. The controller is respectively connected to the first encoder and the first motor so as to activate or deactivate the first motor according to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.

The structure further includes a second shaft, a second motor and a second encoder. The second shaft is used to control horizontal rotation of the solar energy board. The second motor is disposed at the second shaft to rotate the second shaft so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the horizontal direction. The second encoder is used to read a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board or a turn number of the second motor. The controller is respectively connected to the second encoder and the second motor so as to activate or deactivate the second motor according to the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder or the turn number of the second motor.

The controller includes a built-in solar tracking data. The controller generates a predetermined vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board according to the solar tracking data and compares the predetermined vertical rotation angle with the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder so as to activate or deactivate the first motor so that the connecting rod drives the solar energy board to rotate to the predetermined vertical rotation angle.

Furthermore, the controller also generates a predetermined horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board according to the solar tracking data. The second encoder is disposed at the second shaft to read the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board, or is coupled to the second motor to read the turn number of the second motor. When the second encoder is applied to read the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board, the controller compares the predetermined horizontal rotation angle with the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder so as to activate or deactivate the second motor so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle. When the second encoder is applied to read the turn number of the second motor, the controller computes a predetermined turn number of the second motor according to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle, and compares the predetermined turn number with the turn number read from the second encoder so as to activate or deactivate the second motor so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle.

The first motor and the first encoder can be disposed separately. The structure of the present invention further includes an optical sensor for sensing solar position at the initial time, thereby setting the reference point of the solar energy board.

The first shaft or the second shaft is preferably has a mechanical box connected with the first encoder or the second encoder for enhancing the reading precision of the first encoder or the second encoder.

The mechanical box of the second shaft is preferably connected to the second motor. A ratio of the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board to the turn number of the second motor corresponds to acceleration or deceleration ratio of the mechanical box.

In addition, the first motor or the second motor is preferably a servo motor, stepping motor, AC motor or DC motor. The mechanical box includes a plurality of gears assembled together, and is preferably an accelerative or decelerative mechanical box. The structure of the present invention further includes a pillar-like or plate-like supporter for supporting the solar energy board. The first encoder or the second encoder is preferably a magnetic encoder, optical encoder or reading sensor.

To achieve the above, the present invention discloses a method for controlling a solar energy board. The method includes steps of: providing a solar energy board connected with one side of a connecting rod; computing a solar tracking data to generate a predetermined vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board; activating a first motor to move the connecting rod for driving the solar energy board to rotate in the vertical direction; reading a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board by a first encoder; comparing the predetermined vertical rotation angle with the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder; and deactivating the first motor when the predetermined vertical rotation angle being equal to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.

The connecting rod drives the solar energy board to rotate about the first shaft in the vertical direction. The first encoder is preferably disposed at the first shaft. The first motor is preferably disposed at the connecting rod.

Otherwise, a second encoder can be disposed at a second shaft to read a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board, or be connected to a second motor to read a turn number of the second motor. When the second encoder is applied to read the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board, the method for controlling the solar energy board further includes steps of: computing the solar tracking data to generate a predetermined horizontal rotation angle; activating a second motor to drive the solar energy board to rotate in the horizontal direction; reading a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board by a second encoder; comparing the predetermined horizontal rotation angle with the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder; and deactivating the second motor when the predetermined horizontal rotation angle being equal to the horizontal rotation angle.

Alternatively, when the second encoder is applied to read the turn number of the second motor, the method further includes steps of: computing the solar tracking data to generate a predetermined horizontal rotation angle; generating a predetermined turn number of a second motor according to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle; activating a second motor to drive the solar energy board to rotate in the horizontal direction; reading a turn number of the second motor by a second encoder; comparing the predetermined turn number with the turn number read from the second encoder; and deactivating the second motor when the predetermined turn number being equal to the turn number.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the subsequent detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a conventional solar energy apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure for controlling solar energy board according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams showing how to control solar energy board according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts showing methods for controlling solar energy board according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

Please refer to FIG. 2 showing a structure for controlling solar energy board according to the present invention. The optical sensor 27 is utilized to sense solar position at the initial time, thereby providing the controller 25 with the reference point of the solar energy board 26. The first shaft 211 is used to control vertical rotation of the solar energy board 26. The first encoder 221 is disposed at the first shaft 211 for reading a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board 26. The connecting rod 24 is connected with one side of the solar energy board 26. The first motor 231 is disposed at the connecting rod 24 for moving the connecting rod 24 so that the solar energy board 26 is driven to rotate in the vertical direction v. The controller 25 is respectively connected with the first encoder 221 and the first motor 231 so as to activate or deactivate the first motor 231 according to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder 221.

The second shaft 222 is used to control horizontal rotation of the solar energy board. The second motor 232 is disposed at the second shaft 212 to drive the solar energy board 26 to rotate in the horizontal direction h. The second encoder 222 is preferably disposed at the second shaft 212 and connected with the second motor 232 so as to read a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board 26 or a turn number of the second motor 232. The controller 25 is respectively connected with the second encoder 222 and the second motor 232 so as to activate or deactivate the second motor 232 according to the horizontal rotation angle or the turn number.

A mechanical box 29 including a plurality of gears assembled together is disposed at the second shaft 212. A ratio of the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board 26 to the turn number of the second motor 232 corresponds to acceleration or deceleration ratio of the mechanical box 29. The structure for controlling solar energy board further includes a pillar-like supporter 28 for supporting the solar energy board 26.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B showing block diagrams how to control solar energy board according to the present invention. The controller 25 has a built-in solar tracking data 31, thereby generating a predetermined vertical rotation angle 321. Afterwards, the controller 25 compares the predetermined vertical rotation angle 321 with the vertical rotation angle A1 read from the first encoder 221 so as to activate or deactivate the first motor 231 so that the connecting rod 24 drives the solar energy board to rotate to the predetermined vertical rotation angle.

In addition, the controller 25 also generates a predetermined horizontal rotation angle 322 of the solar energy board 26 according to the solar tracking data 31. The second encoder 222 can be disposed at the second shaft to read a horizontal rotation angle A2 of the solar energy board 26, or is coupled to the second motor to read a turn number A3 of the second motor 232. When the second encoder 222 is applied to read the horizontal rotation angle A2 of the solar energy board, the controller 25 compares the predetermined horizontal rotation angle 322 with the horizontal rotation angle A2 read from the second encoder 222 so as to activate or deactivate the second motor 232 so that the solar energy board 26 is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle 322 as shown in FIG. 3A.

When the second encoder 222 is applied to read the turn number A3 of the second motor 232, the controller 25 computes a predetermined turn number 33 of the second motor 232 according to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle 322, and compares the predetermined turn number 33 with the turn number A3 read from the second encoder 222 so as to activate or deactivate the second motor 232 so that the solar energy board 26 is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle 322 as shown in FIG. 3B.

The first shaft or the second shaft has a mechanical box connected with the first encoder or the second encoder for enhancing the reading precision of the first encoder or the second encoder. The first motor or the second motor is preferably a servo motor, stepping motor, AC motor or DC motor. The first encoder or the second encoder is preferably a magnetic encoder, optical encoder or reading sensor.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second encoder can be applied to read the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board or the turn number of the second motor. When the second encoder is applied to read the horizontal rotation angle as shown in FIG. 4A, the method for controlling solar energy board includes the steps S41 to S443 as follows.

In step S41, a solar energy board is provided to be connected with one side of a connecting rod.

In step S42, the predetermined vertical rotation angle and horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board are generated according to the computation of a solar tracking data.

In step S431, a first motor is activated to move the connecting rod so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the vertical direction.

In step S432, a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board is read by a first encoder.

In step S433, the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder is compared with the predetermined vertical rotation angle so as to deactivate the first motor when the predetermined vertical rotation angle is equal to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.

In step S441, a second motor is activated to drive the solar energy board to rotate in the horizontal direction.

In step S442, a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board is read by a second encoder.

In step S443, the horizontal rotation angle from the second encoder is compared with the predetermined horizontal rotation angle so as to deactivate the second motor when the predetermined horizontal rotation angle is equal to the horizontal rotation angle from the second encoder.

Alternatively, the second encoder can be also applied to read the turn number of the second motor as shown in FIG. 4B. The difference between FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B includes the steps S451 to S454 as follows.

In step S451, a predetermined turn number of the second motor is generated according to the computation of the predetermined horizontal rotation angle.

In step S452, the second motor is activated to drive the solar energy board to rotate in the horizontal direction.

In step S453, a turn number of the second motor is read by the second encoder.

In step S454, the turn number from the second encoder is compared with the predetermined turn number so as to deactivate the second motor when the predetermined turn number is equal to the turn number from the second encoder.

The connecting rod drives the solar energy board to rotate about the first shaft in the vertical direction. The first encoder is preferably disposed at the first shaft. The first motor is preferably disposed at the connecting rod.

In summary, the structure and method for controlling the solar energy board of the present invention computes solar position according to the solar tracking data. Therefore, the solar energy board can track the sun precisely in the condition of bad weather or dust contamination so as to optimize efficiency. In addition, the structure of the present invention drives the solar energy board to rotate in the vertical direction by a connecting rod. Further, the encoder is separated from the motor and disposed at the shaft, thereby minimizing the tolerance and inaccurate rotation angle of solar energy board.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention. 

1. A structure for controlling a solar energy board comprising: a first shaft controlling a vertical rotation of the solar energy board; a first encoder disposed at the first shaft for reading a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board; a connecting rod connected to one side of the solar energy board; a first motor disposed at the connecting rod for moving the connecting rod so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the vertical direction; and a controller respectively connected to the first encoder and the first motor so as to activate or deactivate the first motor according to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.
 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the controller generates a predetermined vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board according to a built-in solar tracking data and compares the predetermined vertical rotation angle with the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder so as to activate or deactivate the first motor so that the connecting rod drives the solar energy board to rotate to the predetermined vertical rotation angle.
 3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the first motor and the first encoder are disposed separately.
 4. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor for sensing a solar position at the initial time, thereby setting the reference point of the solar energy board.
 5. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a second shaft for controlling a horizontal rotation of the solar energy board; a second motor disposed at the second shaft to rotate the second shaft so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the horizontal direction; and a second encoder for reading a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board or a turn number of the second motor.
 6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein the controller is respectively connected to the second encoder and the second motor so as to activate or deactivate the second motor according to the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder or the turn number of the second motor.
 7. The structure according to claim 6, wherein the controller generates a predetermined horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board according to a built-in solar tracking data and compares the predetermined horizontal rotation angle with the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder so as to activate or deactivate the second motor so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle.
 8. The structure according to claim 5, wherein the controller generates a predetermined horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board according to a built-in solar tracking data, thereby computing a predetermined turn number of the second motor and compares the predetermined turn number with the turn number read from the second encoder so as to activate or deactivate the second motor so that the solar energy board is driven to rotate to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle.
 9. The structure according to claim 5, wherein the first motor or the second motor is a servo motor, stepping motor, AC motor or DC motor, and the first encoder or the second encoder is a magnetic encoder, optical encoder or reading sensor.
 10. The structure according to claim 5, further comprising a mechanical box connected to the second motor, wherein a ratio of the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board to the turn number of the second motor corresponds to an acceleration or deceleration ratio of the mechanical box.
 11. The structure according to claim 5, further comprising a mechanical box disposed at the first shaft or the second shaft, and the mechanical box is connected to the first encoder or the second encoder for enhancing the reading precision of the first encoder or the second encoder.
 12. The structure according to claim 11, wherein the mechanical box is an accelerative or decelerative mechanical box, and the mechanical box comprises a plurality of gears assembled together.
 13. The structure according to claim 5, further comprising a pillar-like or plate-like supporter for supporting the solar energy board.
 14. A method for controlling a solar energy board comprising steps of: providing a solar energy board connected with one side of a connecting rod; computing a solar tracking data to generate a predetermined vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board; activating a first motor to move the connecting rod for driving the solar energy board to rotate in the vertical direction; reading a vertical rotation angle of the solar energy board by a first encoder; comparing the predetermined vertical rotation angle with the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder; and deactivating the first motor when the predetermined vertical rotation angle being equal to the vertical rotation angle read from the first encoder.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the vertical direction about the first shaft by the connecting rod, the first encoder is disposed at the first shaft, and the first motor is disposed at the connecting rod.
 16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising steps of: computing the solar tracking data to generate a predetermined horizontal rotation angle, or generating a predetermined turn number of a second motor according to the predetermined horizontal rotation angle; activating a second motor to drive the solar energy board to rotate in the horizontal direction; reading a horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board or a turn number of the second motor by a second encoder; comparing the predetermined horizontal rotation angle with the horizontal rotation angle read from the second encoder, or comparing the predetermined turn number with the turn number read from the second encoder; and deactivating the second motor when the predetermined horizontal rotation angle is equal to the horizontal rotation angle, or when the predetermined turn number is equal to the turn number.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the solar energy board is driven to rotate in the horizontal direction about a second shaft, and the second encoder is disposed at the second shaft to read the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board, or is coupled to the second motor to read the turn number of the second motor.
 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of providing an optical sensor for sensing solar position at the initial time, thereby setting the reference point of the solar energy board.
 19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of providing a mechanical box connected with the second motor, wherein a ratio of the horizontal rotation angle of the solar energy board to the turn number of the second motor corresponds to acceleration or deceleration ratio of the mechanical box.
 20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of providing a mechanical box connected with the first encoder or the second encoder for enhancing the reading precision of the first encoder or the second encoder. 